The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-12-22

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remember this memorable and sacred
building, and his comrade and co worker
who writes these lines. Were he dea'!
would say it-why not though he be liv-
ing?-a better man, more faithful chap
lain. truer friend, | never knew. And
glad am that this Christmas reverie has
brought to my heart those hallowed days
when we labored together. How memory
recalls those men who did such honest
work, and We're the target for many sol
dier's jest-as coming to the lines, a yell
would rise: changers over, boys, the
chaplain's coming to have prayer meet 'ng.'
But | could always trust a soldiers heart
after all The rough gray jacket covered
as true and gentle a spirit as ever made
heroes of men.
But, dear me, how am | getting ;.i ng
with my story. Christmas day ca"
US. We had foraged and secuted aud
begged, but for us there was no Christ
mas dinner that day. What beautiful
day it was Long before reveille heard
''the cocks shrill clarion (Only this be
ing a Shanghae rooster his crOwnlr- AaS
more like a hoarse prolonged BRAY; with
this exception the quo alton is sufficiently
apt. Lying on my pine-pole bunk cover
ed with pine straw and oak leaves (Shat
luxuryD | bethought me of something
somebody said somewhere about ''tht- bird
of dawning growing all night long. hut |
had no Shakespeare with me - nothirG bur
a Bible, hymn book and concordance and
none of my mess mates could hel me
Said rooster was the gift of some kind
neighboring landlord to the Colonel of the
44th, to be inundated that same Christ
mas day. The sun rose clear on world
of radiant BEAUTY. Field and forest. hall
and hovel. We're covered with dazzling
snow-full eight inches deep. The few
standing trees were robed in majesty. ard
each twig
Wore ermne too deep for earl
1t was hard. crawling out in fraved at
tire and WOrn-Out shoes shl.erlng and
hungry, 10 answer rlllcali. But soon
with merry shouts, hearty greetings, and
gifts of "CHEwS of tobacco" pipes, or
stems. or half sheet of nearly WHITE
paper, it was apparent that Christ mas
had come! The axe with sharp cadence
rang on the frosty air-and not Nithstaud
ing the discomfort, it was not long before
fires cracked, and breakfast WAS ready.
That Christmas breakfast served on the
top of a shoe box which answered as IA
table for as, " thout cloth, napkins or
china-consi>ted of biscuit made without
grease, a small supply of North Caroina
pork and coffee made of parched corn.
But tell you it was good
Soon after breakfast, the mail came in.
What smiles. what tears, What joys,
what sorrows. What mimic tragedy and
comedy! Did you over See :, eIter written
in those times that tried mems soulst-the
paper dlngy and rough (quite the fashion
now, the ink pale and uncertain-the en-
velope if envelope there be, a TURNED
one? 1t was my singular privilege to be
the contidant and amanuensls of many of
these true men, who though they could
not write, could yet (to use the clever
retort given by South Carolna patriot
| lady to Tarleton during the revolution,
| who sneered that Col. Washington. his
antagonist, could not wrte) make their
mark Two hours of this blessed Christ
mas day, did | give to those men, that
they might send their words of atfectiOnate
remembrance to the dear ones at home
| y ou may be sure it seemed very strange
to me to begin letter My Dear Wife
| or my Dear Daughter" The fact is, it
would still seem very strange But one
man that day insisted on my beginning
his letter, my Dlnkum Tootsy Wootsy."-
| Oh what letters,-Often indeed the
/ Thought was broken language lame.
But what a spirit of fOrtitude, of patriot
ism, of simple hearted affection and hope,
What grand, unnamed, unknown heroes
those We're, who resolutely put behind
them, home and love and comfort, at the
call OF their State! 4 noble heritage from
such ancestry have North Carolinans.
! And | believe the sons are worthy of the
sires; and that the rapid, steady, sure re-
cuperation of our loved old commonwealth,
vii hout dishonorable methods or fictitious
fortune, is a sign that still the same stuff
may be found here. that billowed the fields
of Manassas and Gettysburg with glorious
graves.
! That afternoon there was a sham fight
between MacRae and Davis Mississippi
on the one side and Cook Oh the other
do not remember much about it-and
don't care to much,-fOr, if | recollect,
"our" side didn't whip. In fact | think
didn't see the battle. But soldiers in
camp are but grown up boys-and with
all the ABANDON Of boys just out of schoo
they engaged in all sports especially i'll the
| snow.
After the short day swiftly sped-a
| brief season was spent in the evening b,
torchlights ruddy glare, in holding :
religious service. l read the story of tha
sweet, strange scene at Bethlehem tn,
star, and the shepherds, the magi, and th'
heavenly host, the Babe and the manger
a story that must thrill
As long us life has woes"
With what rich harmOnies did the ole
hymns and the old tunes, sung by men
voices, swell in the chill air. | fortunate
ly knew by heart thanks to the best 0
fathers and mothers) that quaint ant
majestic old hymn of Fate, 'While shep
herds watched their hocks by night.
Which was sung to the tune of NEAR. |
was indeed "a hymn of lofty cheer, an'
the camp resounded with the noble strain
Such was Christmas Day spent twen
, ty-four years ago, an experience not I'm
familiar to many Of your older readers
but of which most of your younger reader
are too unaware. Our story of Mort
Carolina valor and fortitude is told b
others, who even though they may desir
to be just, have not the loyal love. a so
of the sod would have;-and it is told t
our detriment-w will tell her story t
her children.
! | lay down the pen with sadness. c
the many, many faces into which hav
| looked as | have written these rambin
2 "reminiscences, so many are in the dus
2 awaiting a morning even more momentOu
and glorious than Christmas morn.
VIM. S. LACY.
Taste.
The first step in taste is to dislike a